Composite telescopic sight, sight mount, and electroluminescent digitally adjustable reticle

ABSTRACT

A composite scope body having a composite mounting system integrally attached to the scope body. The mounting system may have a self-centering clamping mechanism. Further, a sighting system which may be used in the scope body may include at least one transparent display array for display of a digital reticle. The display array configured to selectively emit light from the array surface. The display may further be integrated with an optical component of the sight or integrated with an optical protection component. The sighting system may further include an adjustment system for adjusting the digital reticle or other information to be displayed on the display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/711,613, Sep. 21, 2017, which claims the benefit of priority fromU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/561,001, filed on Sep. 20,2017, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/420,307, filed onNov. 10, 2016. The contents of the prior applications are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Telescopic sight systems (also interchangeably referred to herein asscope sighting systems or scopes) typically are formed of aluminum,magnesium, or metal alloys that may be machined or cast into acylindrically shaped scope body; the cylindrical body housing variousoptical and mechanical components. A telescopic sight is generallymounted to a firearm, or some other mounting point through use of ascope mount. Typical scope mounts include a scope base that may bemounted to a firearm or other object and a plurality of scope rings,which mount to the scope base. The scope rings may have a circularopening corresponding to the outer circumference of the scope body forclamping to the cylindrical scope body.

Scopes generally offer fixed or variable magnification and may includeadjustments for windage and elevation. Many scope sighting systemsfurther include a reticle for assisting a user with optical measurementand/or aiming. A reticle commonly consists of a plurality of fine lines,which may be stationary, movable mechanically, or movably projected ontoa display field, such as a diffraction grid. Attached U.S. PatentApplication Publication 2012/0113507 A1 discloses one example of areticle formed by light projected onto a diffraction grid, which isincorporated by reference herein. Alternatively, reticles may beelectronically produced on a screen projecting a virtual image; thevirtual image being may be formed digitally based on a processed signalreceived from an imaging sensor.

Reticles are most typically located in a focal plane, at a point betweenthe objective lens or lenses and the ocular lens or lenses. An erectorlens assembly may further be located between the objective lens orocular lens, and the reticle may be located between the objective lensand the erector and/or between the erector and ocular lens, depending onif a magnification of the reticle is desired. Reticles may be formed ofa wire, etched in a glass or transparent substrate, or may be projectedonto or emitted from a display or display field within the scope.Reticles may be viewed in relation to a real image, which may bemagnified or enhanced though optics and placement of the reticle inrelation to the optics, or may be viewed in relation to a virtual imageformed by a processor using light data received by an image sensor. Avirtual image may be displayed using a backlit liquid crystal display(LCD) or transmission-type organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.While the technology of scope sighting systems has improved over theyears, a number of shortcomings are still present in the currentmounting systems and reticle configurations.

Common problems associated with typical mounting systems include:limitations on scope size and form factor due to a necessity forcompatibility with standard ring sizes, corrosion between the scoperings and the scope body or between other mating surfaces in the mountassembly, misalignment of the mounts due to the thermal expansionqualities of different materials, user error in assembling the mountingsystem, and an increase in complexity and weight of the assembly.

Common reticle systems include many shortcomings, the most common being:failure of the mechanical components required for movement of thereticle, misalignment due to shock or thermal expansion, and an increasein complexity and weight due to mechanical components housed inside thescope body. Further, in projected reticle systems, similar disadvantagesexist; along with a further increase in complexity and potential forfailure. In reticles that are electronically produced on a screendisplaying a virtual image, several of the above disadvantages exist,with the addition of the risk that the failure of the electroniccomponents may result in a black-out and inability to use the scopeoptics.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a composite or carbonfiber scope body having a mounting system integrally attached to thescope body. The integral mount may further include a clamping portionhaving a self-centering feature for reducing a lateral shift whenmounting the scope to a mounting rail.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a sighting systemthat includes at least one transparent and segmented digital displaycapable of emitting light from the display. The digital display maydisplay a reticle and/or other pertinent information. The transparentand segmented electroluminescent display may include a thin filmsubstrate produced on an optical or other transparent component withinthe scope body. The display or plurality of displays may be located inbetween the objective lens and the erector and/or between the erectorand ocular lens, for example, depending on if a magnification of thereticle is desired. The display may further be integrated with anoptical component of the sight or integrated with a transparent opticalprotection component. The sighting system may further include anadjustment system for adjusting the reticle or other information to bedisplayed on the display.

Additional advantages and novel features of these aspects will be setforth in part in the description that follows, and in part will becomemore apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing or upon learning by practice of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate one or more example aspects ofthe present disclosure and, together with the detailed description,serve to explain their principles and implementations.

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view depicting an example mounted scope andmounting assembly in accordance with one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view depicting an example mounted scope andmounting assembly in accordance with one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view depicting an example mounted scope andmounting assembly in accordance with one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view depicting an example mounted scopeand mounting assembly in accordance with one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view depicting an example mounted scope and mountingassembly in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a side view depicting an example mounted scope and mountingassembly in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a rear view depicting an example mounted scope and mountingassembly in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A is a rear view depicting an example unmounted scope andintegrated mount in accordance with one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8B is a rear view depicting an example mounted scope and mountingassembly in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a simplified cross section view depicting one example of ascope in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a simplified cross section view depicting one example of ascope in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11A is a view of an example reticle display in accordance with oneaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11B is a view of an example reticle display having reference dotsin accordance with one aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 11C is a magnified view of the reticle display in FIG. 11B inaccordance with one aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 12A is a view depicting a first example controller in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12B is a view depicting a second example controller in accordancewith aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart depicting one control method of the reticledisplay in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a view of an example reticle display in accordance with oneaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a view of an example reticle display in accordance with oneaspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 contains a representative diagram of an example computer systemcapable of carrying out functionality described in exampleimplementations via a coupled device, such as a device on a network, inaccordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In connection with the views and examples of FIGS. 1-9 , wherein likenumbers indicate the same or corresponding elements throughout theviews, FIGS. 1-7 show views of an example scope assembly 100 withintegrated mount 141 and a mounting point 110 for the scope assembly100, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The scopeassembly 100 may include a main scope body 122 having an inner (FIG. 8 )121 and an outer surface 120. The main scope body 122 is shown in FIG. 1as having a generally tubular outer shape; however, the scope body isnot limited as such shape.

The main scope body 122 may comprise a composite and/or a compositesubstrate. A composite for use with this example implementation is notlimited to, and may include any one or combination of: carbon fiber,carbon fiber reinforced plastic, poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide,glass-reinforced plastic, and/or glass-fiber reinforced plastic. Thebody 122 may further include an epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester, and/ornylon. The main scope body 122 may be formed as a molded fiberreinforced plastic, layered and/or laminated substrate or a moldedthermoplastic matrix, for example. Further, the inner surface of themain scope body may include a threaded and/or machined insert 128proximal to the inner surface of the scope body, for example, formounting of components inside the scope body. The insert 128 maycomprise: aluminum, titanium, steel, brass, silicone bronze, and/or analloy of the aforementioned materials, for example. The insert 128 andinner scope body may include additional features and/or processing toimprove the interface between materials. Non-limiting examples ofadditional features and/or processing may include anodization and/or theaddition of a separator between the outer scope body and the insert 128(such as a fiberglass scrim), which may be added to prevent corrosion orgalling between the insert and the outer scope housing. The insert 128,alternatively may comprise polyether ether ketone, reinforced polyetherether ketone, polyetherimide, reinforced polyetherimide, and/orreinforced nylon, for example.

The scope assembly 100 may further include an objective bell 136 and aneyepiece 126. The abovementioned insert 128 may further may include atleast one transparent rear optic or optic protection portion 130. Thescope assembly may further include one or more adjustment turrets orknobs; such as an elevation adjustment turret 132 and/or a windageadjustment turret 134. The turrets 132, 134 may control the location ofthe reticle for elevation and/or windage, for example. The assembly mayfurther include a combination turret (not shown) for control of reticleillumination and/or image focus. The abovementioned turrets may also oralternatively adjust the erector 244, 246 and/or 248 (FIG. 9 ) to adjustfor windage and/or elevation.

Further, the abovementioned turrets 132, 134 may have one or moredetents for providing tactile feedback when a user turns the turret. Theturrets 132, 134 are not limited to knobs as shown, and may provide asimilar function in the form of a slider, button, or rocker switch, forexample. The scope assembly 100 may further include a magnification ring124 for varying the magnification of the scope.

The scope assembly 100 may further include a mounting portion 148integrally mounted to the main scope body 122. The mounting portion 148may be integrally molded as a part of the scope assembly 100 or may, forexample, be bonded or otherwise attached to the scope body 122 oranother portion of the scope assembly 100. The mounting portion may beformed of a composite that is the same as that of much of the remainderof the scope assembly 100, or may be formed of a different material fromthe scope assembly. Since the mounting portion may be mounted to analuminum rail (e.g., for use with a firearm), it may be preferable touse a material similar in electropotential or that is substantiallynon-conductive in order to prevent galvanic corrosion therebetween.Further it may be advantageous to form the mounting portion using alightweight material that has a low coefficient of expansion, forexample. It may be preferable to form the mounting portion of a materialhaving a coefficient of linear thermal expansion less than 55×10⁻⁶ m/mK(+/−10%) between 23° C. and 150° C. The mounting portion may comprise atleast one of a carbon fiber, carbon fiber reinforced plastic,poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide, glass-reinforced plastic,glass-fiber reinforced plastic, polyether ether ketone, reinforcedpolyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, reinforced polyetherimide,and/or reinforced nylon, for example. The composite may further include;epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester, nylon. The use of polyether ether ketone,reinforced polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, reinforcedpolyetherimide, and/or reinforced nylon may prevent corrosion betweenthe mounting portion 148 and the metallic mounting portion of thefirearm, for example. The mounting portion 148 may further be eithermolded as a fiber reinforced plastic and/or be comprised of a layered orlaminated substrate. Forming the mounting portion 148 of polyether etherketone, reinforced polyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, reinforcedpolyetherimide, and/or reinforced nylon, may further prevent corrosionbetween the mounting portion 148 if the mounting rail 105 is formed ofan aluminum or similar metallic material, for example.

The mounting rail 105, to which an integrated mount 141 may be mounted,may include a scope attachment portion 112 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8Bwhich, for explanation and orientation purposes, may extend in adirection F. The scope attachment portion 112, may include a pluralityof recoil grooves 116 formed such that each groove extends in adirection generally perpendicular to the direction F. The mounting rail105 may further include an angled portion 113 having an angled surfacerelative to a plane extending along an edge of the scope attachmentportion 112 in the direction F (e.g., the upper edge of scope attachmentportion 112 as shown in FIG. 8 ). The angled portion 113 may be on bothsides of the rail and angled in relation to an axis perpendicular to theF direction. The mounting rail 105 may also include second angledportions 135 as shown in FIG. 8 . The second angled portions 135 mayintersect with the angled portions 113 forming a line along theintersection of the second angled portion 135 and the angled portion113, the line extending substantially perpendicular to the direction F.The second angled portion 135 and may be on both sides of the rail inrelation to an axis perpendicular to the direction F.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the integrated mount 141 may include areceiving portion 160 for receiving the mounting rail 105. The receivingportion 160 may include a mounted flat portion 148 which may extend indirection F as shown in FIG. 6 when aligned with the mounting rail 105.The receiving portion 160 may further include a first angled portion150. The mounted flat portion 148 may intersect with the first angledportion 150 as shown in FIG. 8A forming edge extending in a directionparallel to direction F when the scope is oriented as shown in FIG. 2 .The first angled portion 150 may further be located on both sides of theflat portion 148 and angled in relation to an axis perpendicular todirection F when the flat portion is aligned with the mounting rail 105and when the scope and firearm body are oriented as shown in FIG. 2 .The receiving portion 160 may further include a clamp mount 144. Theclamp mount 144 may include an inner clamp wall 146 that may intersectand may be angled with relation to the first angled portion 150. Theclamp mount 144 may further include a single or a plurality of clampingpoints 137 (FIG. 5 ) and 140 (FIGS. 5 and 8A). The clamp points 137, 140may include, but are not limited to, a threaded through hole extendingfrom an outer surface 170 of the integrated mount 141 to the inner clampwall 146. Wherein the clamp point may be configured to receive acorresponding threaded clamp (not shown), that may be a bolt forexample. The clamp may thread through the threaded through hole andcontact the mounting rail 105 at a second angled portion 135. The clampmay 144 further include a retainer portion to prevent the accidentalremoval of the clamp from the threaded portion 140; as an example, theretainer portion may comprise a stopper on the end of a bolt, a washeror some other method of preventing the example bolt from backing all theway out of the threaded through hole 140. Other clamping methods may beemployed such as a cam or cam mechanism for tightening the receivingportion 160 to the mounting rail 105. As shown in FIG. 8B, the clampmount 144 may allow for a force in a direction 200, having components indirections 213 and 214; force 214 causing the integrated mount toself-center on the mounting rail 105. Self-centering may occur throughthe abovementioned force 214 and the interaction between the angledportions 113 of the mounting rail 105 and the first angled portions 150of the integrated mount 141.

The integrated mount may further include a recoil stop 142, which passesthrough a through hole on both ends of the integrated mount 141, A shownin FIG. 8A, the recoil-stop may extend between a recoil groove 116 andinteroperate with and may contact a recoil groove 116 of the mountingrail 105. The recoil stop 142 may comprise, but is not limited to, a pinor a bolt. The recoil stop 142 may further include a retainer portion117, or preventing the recoil stop 142 from being removed once the stopis installed; the retainer portion 117 may comprise a pin extendingthrough a hole at portion 117 on the end of the recoil stop, forexample.

The scope body 122 may optionally house an electroluminescentelectronically adjustable reticle 800. As shown in FIG. 11 , theelectroluminescent adjustable reticle may comprise, for example, anoptically transparent substrate 805, having a substantially transparentoptical array 801. The substrate may be formed according to the methoddescribed at the website: http://lumineq.com/en/products/tfel; as viewedon Jul. 14, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 , the scopemay include a first end O and a second end S. The substrate 805 may belocated in a focal plane, such as at a point between the objectivelenses and ocular lens or lenses for example, in a location 350 betweenan erector 248 and an ocular lens or lenses 252 and 253 An erector lensassembly 244, 246 and/or 248 may be located between the objective lensor lenses 280 or ocular lenses 252 and/or 253, and the transparentsubstrate 805 may be located between the objective lens and the erectorin region 320 and/or between the erector and ocular lens in region 340depending on if a magnification of the reticle is desired. The opticallytransparent substrate 805 may further be incorporated into any of theoptics within the sight, some non-limiting examples being the objectivelens 280, ocular lens or lenses 152 and/or 252, and/or erectors 244, 246and 248, or the substrate 805 may be integrated into the transparentoptics protection portions 130 and/or 161 at either end of the scope.

Electroluminescent displays are generally comprised of a substratehaving a layer of electroluminescent material between to conductivelayers. When current is applied across the conductive layers of thesubstrate the electroluminescent material emits visible light. In oneaspect, the electroluminescent display may comprise a glass ortransparent substrate having thin film on the glass or substrate. Thethin film may include a layer of light emitting electroluminescentmaterial formed thereon or attached thereto, such light emittingelectroluminescent material may comprise, for example, a phosphor;manganese, silver, or copper-doped zinc sulfide. The electroluminescentlayer may be located or formed between two dielectric layers thatcomprise the electroluminescent display. Electric current passed throughor a magnetic field imposed upon the display may cause theabovementioned electroluminescent layer to give off protons and therebyemit visible light, for example. The abovementioned conductive layersmay be a transparent electrode formed of a Tin Oxide or other conductivematerials, as described further below, or may be provided through metalnanofibers for example. The display may be formed according to theprocesses, or used in conjunction with various features, described inU.S. Pat. No. 9,226,362 B2 and 9,290,840 B2, which are attached andhereby incorporated by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 14 and 15 The optical array 801 may include aplurality of lines 820 extending in a first direction V (e.g., extendingvertically when viewing the array 801 when positioned on a firearm in afiring position) that remain substantially transparent when not in usebut one or more of which may become lit or otherwise highlighted 950(FIG. 15 ) when electric current or magnetic field is applied. Theoptical array 801 may further include a plurality of second lines 810extending in a second direction H (e.g., extending horizontally whenviewing the array 801 when positioned on a firearm in a firing positionthat remain transparent when not in use but one or more of which maybecome lit or highlighted 810 (FIG. 14 ) when electric current or amagnetic field is applied. A controller 700, 750 (FIGS. 12A, 12B), forexample, may selectively apply current or voltage, for example, to eachof the horizontal or vertical lines 810, 820 to be lit or highlightedthrough a display interface 716 (FIG. 12A). For example, the controller700, 750 (see, e.g., FIGS. 12A, 12B, described further below) mayselectively provide current or voltage to each display segment to be litor highlighted based on a user operating the abovementioned turrets 132and 134 (e.g., FIG. 1 ). As shown in the process 900 of FIG. 13 , thecontroller may receive an input signal 910 from turrets 132 and 134(FIG. 1 ), and based on the input signal received make a firstdetermination 920 to adjust the location of the current or voltage to beapplied to a particular segment 820 (FIG. 15 ) in a horizontal direction950 (FIG. 15 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 15 , the current orvoltage may be initially applied as a default to a vertically extendingsegment in a first position 820, and move to a second position 820 a ora third position 820 b in response to windage adjustment received fromthe windage turret 134 (FIG. 1 ). Further the controller may receive aninput signal 910 from the abovementioned turrets 132 and 134 (e.g., theelevation turret 132 of FIG. 1 ), and based on the received signal makea second determination 930 to adjust the location of the current orvoltage applied to from an initial default segment 810 (FIG. 14 ) in avertical direction 940 (FIG. 14 ). For example, as shown in FIG. 14 ,the current or voltage may be applied so as to change the lit orhighlighted segment from a first position 810 to a second position 810 aor a third position 810 b. The controller 700, 750 (FIG. 12A or 12B) mayadjust the abovementioned location of the currents based on a manualinput from the user (e.g., the abovementioned turrets 132 and/or 134) orautomatically based on inputs regarding any one of a windage, elevation,and/or distance determination, for example. Further, the controller 700,750 (FIG. 12A or 12B) may provide an auto-off feature for turning offillumination of any sections of the optical array when the scope isstationary for a set period of time. The controller 700, 750 (FIG. 12Aor 12B) may further feature an auto-on/off feature based on thedetection of movement of the scope or detection of a user placing theeyepiece 126 (FIG. 1 ) in proximity to the user's eye, for example. Suchdetection may be made, for example, using an inertial or other motionsensor for movement, or an infrared or other proximity detector fordetermining proximity to a user's eye as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,699,115 which is attached and herby incorporated by reference, forexample.

The optical array 801 may optionally further include any number ofinformative displays 830 for displaying characters, for example, asshown in FIG. 11 . The informative display may display, but is notlimited to numerals relating to a yardage or other distance, roundcount, or elevation measurement. The informative display 830 may beformed using the methods described above (and devices described below)and/or via use of a similar thin film substrate as is used for theabovementioned line portions. The informative display 830 may furtherinclude a plurality of the abovementioned informative displays. Theillumination of the informative display may be controlled by theabovementioned controller 700, 750 (see FIGS. 12A and 12B and furtheraccompanying description below), or via a separate controller or otherdevice.

In another aspect, the adjustable reticle may comprise, for example, aseries of reference dots on each of the abovementioned segments to allowa user to view a frame of reference with or without adjusting thereticle. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10A-C, a series of firstreference dots 860 may be part of and/or added and arranged in the firstdirection V along at least one of the plurality of lines 820 (e.g.,extending vertically when viewing the array 801 when positioned on afirearm in a firing position). The reticle may further include a seriesof second reference dots 870 which may be spaced at intervals along atleast one of the plurality of second lines 810 in a second direction H(e.g., extending horizontally when viewing the array 801 when positionedon a firearm in a firing position). The reference dots 860 and/or 870and may remain substantially transparent when not in use, but one ormore of which may become lit or otherwise highlighted when the linesegment along which the reference dots are arranged is lit. Further, thereference dots may be capable of being individually lit either with orseparate from the line segment along which the reference dots arearranged. In one aspect each individual reference dot may be litindividually or by selected groups based on input from the controller700.

As shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the reference dots may be evenly spaced,for example, such that there are one or a plurality (e.g., four) dots ona segment in the first direction V between two respective segments inthe second direction H and vice versa. The MIL-Dots may be spaced, forexample, so as to allow for range estimation and/or to compensate forbullet drop and/or windage adjustments. As an example, the referencedots may be MIL-Dots and the spacing between each MIL-Dot may representa miliradian. As an example, the MIL-Dots may be spaced so that thespacing between the centers of two consecutive MIL-Dots represents 1yard at a distance of 1000 yards. It is noted, that the reference dotsmay be located along any of the above segments and/or may be located atany separate location on the reticle. Further, in one exampleimplementation, the reference dots may be etched into the surface of thereticle substrate or printed on the reticle surface so as to be visibleat all times through the scope.

As shown in FIG. 12A, in one example implementation, the controller 700may include a processor 712, a power supply 714, a display interface 716for controlling a display, such as an electroluminescent electronicallyadjustable reticle 800, and a memory 740. Example features of each ofthese portions of the controller 700 of FGI. 12A is discussed in moredetail with regard to FIG. 12B below.

As shown in FIG. 12B, the controller 750 may alternatively include or becoupled with a computer, or aspects thereof (e.g., via wired or wirelesscoupling, such as is shown in and described with respect to FIG. 16below), for implementing the abovementioned steps using hardware,software or a combination thereof. In one aspect of the presentdisclosure, features are directed toward one or more computer systemscapable of carrying out the functionality described herein.

Computer system 600 includes one or more processors, such as processor604. The processor 604 may be connected to a communicationinfrastructure 606 (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, ornetwork). Various software aspects are described in terms of thisexemplary computer system. After reading this description, it willbecome apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how toimplement aspects of the invention using other computer systems and/orarchitectures.

Computer system 600 can include a display interface 602 that translatesdata from the communication infrastructure 606 (or from a frame buffernot shown) for display on the reticle 800. Computer system 600 alsoincludes a main memory 608, which may be a random access memory (RAM),and may also include a secondary memory 610. The secondary memory 610may include, for example, a hard disk drive 612 and/or a removablestorage drive 614, representing a universal serial bus (USB) flashdrive, etc. The removable storage drive 614 reads from and/or writes toa removable storage unit 618 in a well-known manner. Removable storageunit 618 may include a USB flash drive, for example, which is read byand written to removable storage drive 614. As will be appreciated, theremovable storage unit 618 includes a computer usable storage mediumhaving stored therein computer software and/or data.

Alternative aspects of the abovementioned computer may include secondarymemory 610 and may include other similar devices for allowing computerprograms or other instructions to be loaded into computer system 600.Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit 622 andan interface 620. Examples of such may include a program cartridge andcartridge interface, a removable memory chip (such as an erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory(PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 622 andinterfaces 620, which allow software and data to be transferred from theremovable storage unit 622 to computer system 600.

The computer 600 in controller 700 may also include a communicationsinterface 624. Communications interface 624 allows software and data tobe transferred between computer system 600 and external devices.Examples of communications interface 624 may include a Bluetooth®module, a network interface, a communications port, a Personal ComputerMemory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc.Software and data transferred via communications interface 624 are inthe form of signals 628, which may be electronic, electromagnetic,optical or other signals capable of being received by communicationsinterface 624. These signals 628 are provided to communicationsinterface 624 via a communications path (e.g., channel) 626. This path626 carries signals 628 and may be implemented using wire or cable,fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF)link and/or other communications channels. In this document, the terms“computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to refergenerally to media such as a removable storage drive, a hard diskinstalled in hard disk drive, and signals 628. These computer programproducts provide software to the computer system 600. The disclosure isdirected to such computer program products.

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) arestored in main memory 608 and/or secondary memory 610. Computer programsmay also be received via communications interface 624. Such computerprograms, when executed, enable the computer system 600 to perform thefeatures in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, asdiscussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed,enable the processor 604 to perform the features in accordance withaspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, such computer programsrepresent controllers of the computer system 600.

In an aspect of the present disclosure where the steps are implementedusing software, the software may be stored in a computer program productand loaded into computer system 600 using removable storage drive 614,hard drive 612, or communications interface 620. The control logic(software), when executed by the processor 604, causes the processor 604to perform the functions described herein. In another aspect of thepresent disclosure, the system is implemented primarily in hardwareusing, for example, hardware components, such as application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware statemachine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparentto persons skilled in the relevant art(s). In another aspect of thepresent disclosure, the disclosed controller functions may beimplemented using a combination of both hardware and software.

The substrate 805 of reticle 800 may further be used in combination witha wire reticle, a cross-hair, and/or a reticle etched into the substratethat is/are provided as a stationary frame of reference in case of anelectroluminescent display failure or misalignment.

FIG. 16 shows an example components within a system 1100 usable inaccordance with the present invention. The system 1100 includes one ormore users 1160, 1162, one or more controller components within a scope1142 and one or more terminals 1166. In one aspect, data input for use,and various features for processing and display, for example, inaccordance with aspects of the present invention may be, for example,input and/or accessed by the one or more controller components withinthe scope 1142, which may further be processed or otherwise communicatewith one or more terminals 1166, such as personal computers (PCs),minicomputers, mainframe computers, microcomputers, telephonic devices,or wireless devices, such as personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), smartphones, or other hand-held wireless devices, which may optionally becoupled to a server 1143, such as a PC, minicomputer, mainframecomputer, microcomputer, or other device having a processor and arepository for data and/or connection to a repository for data, via, forexample, a network 1144, such as the Internet or an intranet, andcouplings 1145, 1146, 1164. The couplings 1145, 1146, 1164 include, forexample, wired, wireless, or fiberoptic links.

While the aspects described herein have been described in conjunctionwith the example aspects outlined above, various alternatives,modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents,whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may becomeapparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art.Accordingly, the example aspects, as set forth above, are intended to beillustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, thedisclosure is intended to embrace all known or later-developedalternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/orsubstantial equivalents.

KEY FOR FIGURES Number Part Name 100 Scope assembly 105 Mounting rail110 Mounting point 112 Scope attachment portion 113 Angled portion 116Recoil groove 117 Retainer portion 120 Outer surface 122 Scope body 124Magnification ring 126 Eyepiece 128 Insert 130 Optic protection portion132 Windage adjustment turret 134 Elevation adjustment turret 135 Secondangled portion 136 Objective bell 137 Clamp point 140 Clamp point 141Integrated mount 142 Recoil stop 144 Clamp mount 146 Inner clamp wall148 Flat portion 150 First angled portion 152 Lenses 160 Receivingportion 161 Transparent optics protection portions 170 Outer surface 214Centering force 244 Erector lens 246 Erector lens 248 Erector lens 252Ocular lens 253 Ocular lens 280 Objective lens 600 Computer 602 Displayinterface 604 Processor 606 Communication infrastructure 608 Main memory610 Secondary memory 612 hard disk drive 614 Removable storage drive 618Removable storage unit 620 Communications interface 620 Interface 622Removable storage units 624 Communications interface 626 Path 628Signals 670 Hard disk drive 700 Controller 750 Controller 800Electronically adjustable reticle 801 Optical array 805 Opticallytransparent substrate 810 Horizontal lines 820 Vertical lines 830Informative display 860 First reference dots 870 Second reference dots910 Input signal 920 First determination 930 Second determination 940Vertical direction 950 Horizontal direction 1100 System 1142 Scope 1143Server 1144 Network 1145 Couplings 1146 Couplings 1160 Users 1162 Users1164 Couplings 1166 Terminals

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical sighting apparatus, comprising: a mainbody having a housing formed of a composite material, with a first endportion and a second end portion and having a central axis extendingfrom the first end portion to the second end portion; an objective lensdisposed within the body, wherein the objective lens is located at aposition less linear distance along the central axis from the first endportion than from the second end portion; an eyepiece housing a lens,the eyepiece being disposed within the body at a position less lineardistance along the central axis from the second end portion than fromthe first end portion; an erector lens disposed within the body at aposition between the objective lens and the eyepiece lens; and amounting portion, formed of a substantially non-conductive compositematerial and integrally formed with or permanently bonded to the mainbody, the mounting portion comprising: a rail receiver portion forreceiving a mounting rail, wherein the rail receiver portion furthercomprises: at least one flat portion forming plane having a major axisperpendicular to said central axis; a first angled portion located oneach end of a minor axis of the flat portion, the first angled portionbeing capable of receiving a respective angled portion of a receiverportion of the mounting rail; and at least one second angled portionintersecting with at least one of the first angled portions; and aclamping portion with a threaded bolt for contacting a portion of themounting rail to clamp the rail to the mounting rail, wherein themounting rail has a central axis, and wherein, when the rail receiverportion is aligned with the mounting rail, the clamping portion providesa first force to the mounting rail in a direction that is perpendicularto the central axis and a second force parallel to the central axis suchthat the combination of the first force and the second force supplied bythe first angled portions center the optical sighting apparatus withrelation to the mounting rail.
 2. The optical sighting apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said clamping portion comprises: a threaded hole forreceiving the threaded bolt; a retainer portion for preventing thethreaded bolt from separating from the threaded hole.
 3. The opticalsighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body includes at leastone of a carbon fiber, carbon fiber reinforced plastic,poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide, glass-reinforced plastic,glass-fiber reinforced plastic.
 4. The optical sighting apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the mounting portion is formed of at least one of acarbon fiber, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, poly-para-phenyleneterephthalamide, glass-reinforced plastic, glass-fiber reinforcedplastic, polyether ether ketone, reinforced polyether ether ketone,polyetherimide, reinforced polyetherimide, or reinforced nylon.
 5. Theoptical sighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion isformed of a material having a coefficient of linear thermal expansionless than 55×10⁻⁶ m/mK between 23° C. and 150° C.
 6. The opticalsighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting rail is attached toa firearm.
 7. The optical sighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein themounting portion is configured to be removeably connected to a firearm.8. The optical sighting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the opticalsighting apparatus further comprises an adjustable reticle disposedwithin the body.
 9. The optical sighting apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid clamping portion comprises: a threaded hole through the secondangled portion for threadably receiving the threaded bolt.
 10. Theoptical sighting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the threaded boltcontacts an angled portion the mounting rail.
 11. An optical sightingapparatus, comprising: a main body having a housing formed of a firstcomposite material comprising at least one of a carbon fiber, carbonfiber reinforced plastic, poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide,glass-reinforced plastic, or glass-fiber reinforced plastic, with afirst end portion and a second end portion and having a central axisextending from the first end portion to the second end portion; a firstlens disposed within the body, wherein the first lens is located at aposition less linear distance along the central axis from the first endportion than from the second end portion; an eyepiece housing a secondlens, the eyepiece being disposed within the body at a position lesslinear distance along the central axis from the second end portion thanfrom the first end portion; and a mounting portion, formed of a secondcomposite material and integrally formed with or permanently bonded tobe non-removable from and to form single body with the main body, themounting portion comprising: a rail receiver portion for receiving amounting rail with least one flat portion forming plane having a majoraxis perpendicular to said central axis; a first angled portion locatedon each end of a minor axis of the flat portion, the first angledportion being capable of receiving a respective angled portion of areceiver portion of the mounting rail; and at least one second angledportion intersecting with at least one of the first angled portions; anda clamping portion for clamping the receiver portion to the mountingrail via threaded bolt contacting a portion of the mounting rail;wherein the mounting rail has a central axis; and wherein, when the railreceiver portion is aligned with the mounting rail, the clamping portionis capable of providing a first force to the mounting rail in adirection that is perpendicular to the central axis and a second forceparallel to the central axis such that the combination of the firstforce and the second force supplied by the first angled portions centerthe optical sighting apparatus with relation to the mounting rail. 12.The optical sighting apparatus of claim 11, further comprising anerector lens disposed within the body at a position between the firstlens and the second lens.
 13. The optical sighting apparatus of claim12, wherein the first lens is an objective lens.
 14. The opticalsighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first composite material isdifferent from the second composite material.
 15. The optical sightingapparatus of claim 14, wherein the mounting portion is formed of amaterial having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion less than55×10⁻⁶ m/mK between 23° C. and 150° C.
 16. The optical sightingapparatus of claim 15, wherein the mounting portion is formed of atleast one of a carbon fiber, carbon fiber reinforced plastic,poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide, glass-reinforced plastic,glass-fiber reinforced plastic, polyether ether ketone, reinforcedpolyether ether ketone, polyetherimide, reinforced polyetherimide, orreinforced nylon.
 17. The optical sighting apparatus of claim 11,wherein the first composite material and the second composite materialare the same material.
 18. The optical sighting apparatus of claim 11,wherein the mounting portion is configured to be removeably connected toa firearm.
 19. The optical sighting apparatus of claim 18, wherein theoptical sighting apparatus further comprises an adjustable reticledisposed within the body.
 20. The optical sighting apparatus of claim11, wherein said clamping portion comprises: a threaded hole through thesecond angled portion for threadably receiving the threaded bolt. 21.The optical sighting apparatus of claim 20, wherein the threaded boltcontacts an angled portion the mounting rail.